We are invited to let ourselves be led, in all circumstances, by the Spirit, in order to live as “heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ”, extending his liberating legacy to those who live with us.***

We receive “a spirit of adopted children, in which we cry: Abba – O Father!” We are invited to let ourselves be led, in all circumstances, by the Spirit, in order to live as “heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ”, extending his liberating legacy to those who live with us.

  First Reading: Romans 8:12-17

Reading of Saint Paul's letter to the Romans – 12Brothers, we owe a debt, but not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if you kill the fleshly way of life through the spirit, then you will live. 14All those who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15Indeed, you did not receive a spirit of slaves, to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adopted children, in which we all cry out: Abba – O Father! 16The Spirit himself unites with our spirit to attest to us that we are children of God. 17And if we are children, we are also heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if we truly suffer with him, it is to also be glorified with him. - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 67(68)

Our God is a God who saves, he is a liberating God!

1. Behold, God stands, and the enemies scatter! / Those who hate the Lord flee far from his face! / But the righteous rejoice in the presence of the Lord, / they rejoice in satisfaction and exult with joy! – R.

2. He is the father of orphans and the protector of widows; / this is how our God is in his holy dwelling. / It is the Lord who gives shelter, gives a home to the disinherited, / who frees the prisoners and fills them with plenty. – R.

3. Blessed be God, blessed be, each day, / the God of our salvation, who carries our burdens! / Our God is a God who saves, he is a liberating God; / the Lord, only the Lord, can deliver us from death! – R.

Gospel: Luke 13,10-17

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Your Word is the truth; / sanctify us in truth! (John 17:17) – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, 10Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. 11There was a woman there who, for eighteen years, had a spirit that made her sick. She was hunched over and unable to straighten up. 12Seeing her, Jesus called her and said to her, “Woman, you are free from your illness.” 13Jesus laid his hands on her, and immediately the woman straightened up and began to praise God. 14The leader of the synagogue was furious because Jesus had performed a cure on the Sabbath. And taking the floor, he began to say to the crowd: “There are six days to work. Come, then, on these days to be healed, but not on the Sabbath.” 15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does each one of you not release the ox or the donkey from the pen to give it a drink, even if it is the Sabbath day? 16Shouldn’t this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, be released from her prison on the Sabbath?” 17This answer shamed all of Jesus' enemies. And the whole crowd rejoiced at the wonders he did. – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

The scheme is repeated, as is the misunderstanding of religious leaders. Jesus teaches in the synagogue, on the SATURDAY. A hunched woman is present, a symbol of the people burdened with heavy burdens. Without her uttering a word, Jesus, with an order and the laying on of hands, frees her from her illness: “immediately she straightened up”. Freed and now happy, she sets out to glorify God. Discomfort for the head of the synagogue who, clinging to his hypocritical legalism, tries to prevent others from glorifying God as beings capable of standing. Jesus argues that this “daughter of Abraham” is more important than a religion that does not liberate and only burdens people. Jesus’ enemies are embarrassed, and the crowd “rejoiced at all the wonders that Jesus performed.”